That Love just happened to grow up idolizing former Boston Celtics
great Kevin McHale was incidental to the trade, although it did make
the Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations "feel older
than I already did."
great Kevin McHale was incidental to the trade, although it did make
the Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations "feel older
than I already did."
McHale, in a phone interview Sunday, also said comparisons between the
two are shortsighted because Love is a more complete player.
two are shortsighted because Love is a more complete player.
"He doesn’t play like me," McHale said. "Overall, he is much better
than I was at 19 as far as shooting and passing are concerned. He has a
whole different element to his game that I really like. I could score
and defend in the low-post but was more of specialty player overall."
than I was at 19 as far as shooting and passing are concerned. He has a
whole different element to his game that I really like. I could score
and defend in the low-post but was more of specialty player overall."
Celtics guard Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins will not play for a select team that will scrimmage the US Olympic team July 21-24 in Las Vegas, but several talented young players will challenge the NBA stars. The projected roster includes Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson, Atlanta’s Al Horford, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, Seattle’s Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, Sacramento’s Kevin Martin, Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey, and Chicago’s Derrick Rose.
And the Heat likes restricted free agent Sebastian Telfair, though Minnesota can match any offer.
Hoiberg was feeling the heat on Friday.
Television sportscasts were over before the deal was leaked and
newspapers had to scramble to get the news in the paper before deadline.
Television sportscasts were over before the deal was leaked and
newspapers had to scramble to get the news in the paper before deadline.
"I looked in the paper this morning, and I got
so many e-mails," Hoiberg said. "People said I lied when I went down
and talked to the group after the draft.
so many e-mails," Hoiberg said. "People said I lied when I went down
and talked to the group after the draft.
"You know, we expected O.J. to be on our team –
that’s why we drafted him. But when the deal came up with Kevin and
Mike Miller, we just felt that it addressed so many needs. We felt it
was a deal that we absolutely could not pass up on."
that’s why we drafted him. But when the deal came up with Kevin and
Mike Miller, we just felt that it addressed so many needs. We felt it
was a deal that we absolutely could not pass up on."
From Andrew Thell/Empty The Bench: Why Kevin McHale Still Doesn’t Get it and Kevin Love Won’t Fit in Minnesota
There’s a chuckle on the other end of the receiver. The general manager
thinks the question is kind of funny. UCLA big man Kevin Love has some
potential. But not quite the potential — or the immediate impact — of
USC guard O.J. Mayo.
thinks the question is kind of funny. UCLA big man Kevin Love has some
potential. But not quite the potential — or the immediate impact — of
USC guard O.J. Mayo.
"Think about it," the G.M. says. "What’s the worst-case scenario with
Mayo? He’ll be a starter, maybe he’ll be a combo guard that you have
trouble figuring out if you play him at the 1 or the 2. But with Love,
there’s a chance he is in over his head. He could be a Shelden Williams
type."
Mayo? He’ll be a starter, maybe he’ll be a combo guard that you have
trouble figuring out if you play him at the 1 or the 2. But with Love,
there’s a chance he is in over his head. He could be a Shelden Williams
type."
From Tom Ziller/Fanhouse:
Half the league plans on having cap space in two years; Minnesota is not remotely going to be an attractive option.
And if Miller was the hinge to this deal for the Wolves, but the deal
was made with the summer of ’10 in mind … doesn’t it matter that Miller’s contract expires in 2010!
There’s a strong chance that a) Miller and the hypothetical 2010
superstar never play together, or b) you’ll be offering a 30-year-old
MiMi a fat six-year contract in 2010. HMMM.
was made with the summer of ’10 in mind … doesn’t it matter that Miller’s contract expires in 2010!
There’s a strong chance that a) Miller and the hypothetical 2010
superstar never play together, or b) you’ll be offering a 30-year-old
MiMi a fat six-year contract in 2010. HMMM.
Success doesn’t just come on the court. As they say, there is no “I” in team. The locker room has to be at peace as well.
At least Miller and Love wanted to play in Minnesota.
It’s still disappointing that we traded Mayo away, but I’m starting to soften my standpoint on that.